Branderhorst, Nick Sr. (1923-2002)

BRANDERHORST, GARSTMAN, MEURS

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2005 at 15:19:18

PELLA - Nick Branderhorst Sr., 78, of Pella, died Friday, March 8, in the Long Term Care Unit of Pella Regional Health Center.

His memorial service will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. Harvey A. Brink and the Rev. Stephen Veldhuis officiating. Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella is in charge of arrangements.

Nicolaas Branderhorst was born Dec. 6, 1923, in Diesen, Noord Brabant, The Netherlands, to Gerrit Peter and Anneke Garstman Branderhorst. He received a grade-school education in The Netherlands and served as a courier for the American Intelligence Service during World War II. He crossed the enemy border several times with secret information in his shoulder patches.

On Nov. 28, 1950, he married Nellie Meurs in Opperdoes, The Netherlands. They came to the United States on Jan. 4, 1951, and settled in Pella, where their three children were born. They worked and saved to buy a business, and owned and operated Nick's Greenhouse for 45 years.

Nick suffered a stroke, and since then has lived in the Long Term Care Unit of Pella Regional Health Center. He was a member of First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. He loved hunting and fishing, and enjoyed traveling; he and Nellie hosted many tourist groups to Europe.

He is survived by his wife, Nellie; their three children and spouses: Kathy A. and Darrell Noteboom of Alton, Nick Branderhorst Jr. and Brooke Hupke Branderhorst of Pella, and Marlo G. and Lori Allen Branderhorst of Fort Dodge; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his siblings Reda Plate of Prairie City, Jane Van Giessen of Chattam, Canada, Dorothy De Vries of Prince Edward Island, Canada, Bert Branderhorst of Exeter, Canada, Jon Branderhorst of Hensall, Canada, Wilma Kodde of Granton, Canada, and Annie Konung of Hamilton, Canada.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers: Cornie and Peter Branderhorst.

The Oskaloosa Herald, March 11, 2002